NHL DFS Underdog Pick’em Round One
Playoff hockey means little to no surprises when it comes to the lineup and starting goalie. Teams roll their best lines out there and trust the starting goalie on a night-to-night basis. There are three games tonight that could decide the series or they could be sent to a game 7.
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Rangers vs Penguins (PIT leads series 3-2)
Chris Kreider Over 2.5 Shots
The Rangers need their star goal scorer to show up if they want to push this series to 7 games. Kreider has not scored in the last 3 games of the series and only has 1 point in his last 3. Kreider scored 52 goals in the regular season and 2 so far in the playoffs. His first-line minutes mixed with his involvement on the powerplay gives him a good chance to hit this line. Kreider has had over 2.5 shots in 2 of the last 3 games.
Jacob Trouba Over 2.5 Shots
Trouba has had over 2.5 shots in 4 of the 5 games in this series. Excusing the triple OT game 1, Trouba is averaging over 22 minutes of ice time. He is also on the power play and penalty kill. Trouba’s linemate, K’Andre Miller, takes a more defensive role while Trouba has the luxury to step up in the play and can create more chances in the offensive zone. Trouba is very involved in the game and the pressure of knowing that it is a win-or-go-home scenario should boost the Rangers’ attack.
Jake Guentzel Over 4 Shots
The Rangers have had no luck stopping Guentzel in this series. Guentzel has notched 7 goals throughout the first 5 playoff games. He is also averaging 6 shots a game. There is no outlier game either where his shots are skewing his average, he has had 6 or more shots in 4 of the 5 games, and the only game he didn’t hit the target of 4 shots, he had 3. Playing with Sidney Crosby is working wonders for Guentzel and the Penguins this season. Guentzel is averaging 22 minutes of ice time with about 3 of those minutes coming on the powerplay. He should get his chances in this contest.
Panthers vs Capitals (FLA leads series 3-2)
Carter Verhaeghe Over 2.5 Shots
Ride the hot hand, Florida. Verhaeghe has been pivotal to the Panthers’ offense in the first round. Coming off a 5-point performance in game 5, Florida could need Verhaeghe to stay hot to eliminate the Capitals. He has received a jump from 13-14 minutes of ice time in the first 3 games to 17-20 minutes of ice time in the last 2 games. In the last 2 games, he has 4 goals and 3 assists. Verhaeghe has hit the over on 2.5 shots in 3 of the 5 games in this series. Verhaeghe will rotate on the first and second line all night and should see enough opportunity where this is a reachable line for him.
Aaron Ekblad Under 2.5 Shots
Ekblad has yet to have 3 or more shots in any game in this series. He is a great player but through 5 games he only has 8 shots. He has the ice time and opportunity but he is more of a setup guy, notching 4 assists in the series. Ekblad has played a more defensive/ playmaking role in this series and I see that continuing in game 6.
John Carlson Over .5 assists
It can be difficult to predict points, but Carlson’s involvement and his offensive abilities are so important to the Capitals. Carlson has assisted in the last 4 games in this series and is averaging 24 minutes of ice time. 4 of those minutes being on the powerplay each game on average. He guts pucks to the net and creates chances for the Capitals every game. To stay alive in this series, Washington will need a good game from their best blueliner.
Flames vs Stars (CGY leads series 3-2)
Elias Lindholm Under 2.5 Shots
Lindholm has only hit the over on this line once through 5 games in this series. He does have 3 goals in the series so far but 5 of his 12 shots have come in one game. Surprisingly, he doesn’t have more shot attempts while playing with Johnny Gaudreau, one of the best playmakers in the NHL. I believe Lindholm could have a good game, just getting to 3 shots could prove tough against the Stars.
Miro Heiskanen Over 2 Shots
Heiskanen has had 2 or more shots in 4 of the 5 games in the series. The Stars have only scored 1 goal in each of the last 2 games and need to change things up. Shots from the point could be what they need to put a few past Jacob Markstrom of the Flames. Heiskanen is on the first defensive pairing and plays on both the powerplay and penalty kill. With his 25 minutes of ice time, he should see a few shot opportunities in this game.
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